scottydoesntknow:I'm more surpised that there's 750,000 people who didn't know this will probably be the last year for the current generation of consoles.

But it doesn't mean that there will be no support for the current generation once the new generation is released. The XBox was discontinued in North America in 2007, two years after the release of the 360. There are still new PS2 games being released, 12 years after its release (despite the console being discontinued).

RexTalionis:But it doesn't mean that there will be no support for the current generation once the new generation is released. The XBox was discontinued in North America in 2007, two years after the release of the 360. There are still new PS2 games being released, 12 years after its release (despite the console being discontinued).

[ecx.images-amazon.com image 300x300]

I wonder how many PS2's were sold, total, over the years?My kids still play their PS2. In fact, they've asked for mostly old PS2 games for Christmas.

I think we're going to get a new xbox for xmas. We have one, and it still works, sorta, but the disc tray has stopped opening and the last time I had it fixed it was $50. Also, the power supply / fan thing is NOISY. And we could use one for the living room that had wireless... all that together and we're looking at the cost of a new one.

Also, there are six of us so a secondary one for playing downloaded games is a great idea, especially since we all adore Red Dead Redemption.

I always wonder why people care if x box or playstation sells more, if you have one you have one if you don't you don't, who cares if Sony or Microsoft made money, they ain't giving any to you, ( unless you work or invest there)

JosephFinn:So if I was to buy an XBox in, say, March, I'm safe for at least a few years on that, right?

I'd say so. If a new Xbox was announced tomorrow it would probably be most of a year before it shipped and then it would be a couple years before its install base is big enough and developers are experienced enough to release big-budget games that really innovate over current-gen. The first batch of games tends to look like if previous gen games had more RAM.

Were there actually Black Friday deals on buying the Wii U system? I didn't care to look or get one, but all I saw were Xbox 360 and PS3 game bundles as if most who want one don't have a system by now.

styckx:DoomPaul: I'm not 100% sure on the Wii U's specs but does it really even qualify as a "next gen" console? I mean, how does its specs compare to the 360 and PS3?

I heard it's barely equal to them.

Wii-U is just the 4th generation N64. They keep giving each console minimal hardware upgrades and add one new shiny object to justify making people pay another $300 for it.

N64 Gimmick - 64Bit

Gamecube Gimmick - Discs instead of carts

Wii Gimmick - Motion controller

Wii-U Gimmick - LCD controller

I don't think the GCN was gimmick based, it was their last non novelty focused console. Spec wise, it was very good compared tot he ps2. It's just sony was able o attract a lot of developers once sales took off, while the xbox went on to pull in a ton of pc gamers. That left nintendo with pretty much just their first party offerings to attract gamers.

DoomPaul:I'm not 100% sure on the Wii U's specs but does it really even qualify as a "next gen" console? I mean, how does its specs compare to the 360 and PS3?

A little bit less, a little bit more.

Less CPU, more GPU. Not really going to matter much, since it's not exactly pushing lots of polys at high resolutions. AI and calculations will be slower/worse on the WiiU, while some extra bling can be added on the graphical front. Pretty much a wash.

So what I'm saying is that it's the next Nintendo console. Nintendo lags behind in order to keep their price low. They aren't in competition for the next round of mega-AAA gaming.

Skarekrough:DoomPaul: I'm not 100% sure on the Wii U's specs but does it really even qualify as a "next gen" console? I mean, how does its specs compare to the 360 and PS3?

NIntendo doesn't play by "specs." Their last Gen didn't have HDMI and that was good enough for you even though Sony and Microsoft had it.

You don't need to know resolution, memory, graphics or CPU. They have a Wiimote and friggin' Mario. If that's not good enough for you then it's obvious that you don''t like "fun" so move it along.

Seriously though. Sony and Microsoft are looking at a decade for turnover. NIntendo is comfortable with six. Let's see how long that lasts.

I doubt they will take a full decade to release the ps4/nextbox. the 10 year lifecycle was also used for the ps1 and ps2, for example. Hell, the ps2 still has games released for it, and is still in production.

Skarekrough:DoomPaul: I'm not 100% sure on the Wii U's specs but does it really even qualify as a "next gen" console? I mean, how does its specs compare to the 360 and PS3?

NIntendo doesn't play by "specs." Their last Gen didn't have HDMI and that was good enough for you even though Sony and Microsoft had it.

You don't need to know resolution, memory, graphics or CPU. They have a Wiimote and friggin' Mario. If that's not good enough for you then it's obvious that you don''t like "fun" so move it along.

Seriously though. Sony and Microsoft are looking at a decade for turnover. NIntendo is comfortable with six. Let's see how long that lasts.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii was not fun. Sluggish controls and stiff movement are the bane of precision platforming. Go play any Mario platformer from Super Mario World and earlier, then play NSMBW. You'll be snapping wiimotes by the dozen. Add in that croquet-balls-in-a-tumble-dryer multiplayer crap, and you'll see why that game has sat on my shelf since the day after I bought it. The controls were so crappy that I got screaming mad at the game by the time I reached the first castle, and my wife didn't even make it to the second castle after I tossed my controller in the trash. (I recovered the controller...eventually)

None of the "New" Super Mario games are fun. They all suffer from the horrible, sluggish, stiff, imprecise, and laggy controls - even on the DS. You can even play the original SMB and NSMB on the DS back-to-back for comparison. The new games are crap.

The WiiU is pointless. The gimmick this time around just confuses most people, the base hardware is PS3/360 gen equivalent, and the launch library is weak...even the 1st party titles are getting lukewarm reviews.

Also, the update-without-a-splash screen issue is ridiculous as is anyone who defends it. If the UI is failing to report system activity, anyone here would think it was bricked and is a liar if they say otherwise.

Kuroshin:The controls were so crappy that I got screaming mad at the game by the time I reached the first castle, and my wife didn't even make it to the second castle after I tossed my controller in the trash. (I recovered the controller...eventually)

You sound bad at Mario. My friends and I had a blast with the NSMB, even if we got mad as hell at each other for the accidental deaths we caused, but that's half the fun. You really had trouble with the first world? The game barely gets up to Mario 3 challenge until the 4th world. The controls are a bit different from the past, but you can adjust.

dehehn:Kuroshin: The controls were so crappy that I got screaming mad at the game by the time I reached the first castle, and my wife didn't even make it to the second castle after I tossed my controller in the trash. (I recovered the controller...eventually)

You sound bad at Mario. My friends and I had a blast with the NSMB, even if we got mad as hell at each other for the accidental deaths we caused, but that's half the fun. You really had trouble with the first world? The game barely gets up to Mario 3 challenge until the 4th world. The controls are a bit different from the past, but you can adjust.

/Try less breaking controllers, more adjusting to the controls.

You can't adjust out the slop. As someone who has completed all the Marios up to SMW, which was completed 100%, I must not know what I'm talking about. There's perceptible input lag and wayyyyyyyyyyy too much inertia and momentum on *all* of the "New" Mario titles. When I push forward, Mario is supposed to immediately start moving, and when I push jump he's supposed to spring off the precise spot, no more than one or two frames later. Instead, you push forward and it takes a moment for him to start moving, and when you push jump it's quite a few frames before he actually launches into the air.

This is on both the Wii, and the 3DS. Compare SMB (NES VC) to NSMB. There's noticeable difference in control sharpness and response. Hell, I have zero trouble with Super Meat Boy, yet *I* am the one who can't control a game... Right.

/SMB used to be a precision platformer//what do you get when you remove the precision?///NSMB

Nem Wan:JosephFinn: So if I was to buy an XBox in, say, March, I'm safe for at least a few years on that, right?

I'd say so. If a new Xbox was announced tomorrow it would probably be most of a year before it shipped and then it would be a couple years before its install base is big enough and developers are experienced enough to release big-budget games that really innovate over current-gen. The first batch of games tends to look like if previous gen games had more RAM.

Kuroshin:Skarekrough: DoomPaul: I'm not 100% sure on the Wii U's specs but does it really even qualify as a "next gen" console? I mean, how does its specs compare to the 360 and PS3?

NIntendo doesn't play by "specs." Their last Gen didn't have HDMI and that was good enough for you even though Sony and Microsoft had it.

You don't need to know resolution, memory, graphics or CPU. They have a Wiimote and friggin' Mario. If that's not good enough for you then it's obvious that you don''t like "fun" so move it along.

Seriously though. Sony and Microsoft are looking at a decade for turnover. NIntendo is comfortable with six. Let's see how long that lasts.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii was not fun. Sluggish controls and stiff movement are the bane of precision platforming. Go play any Mario platformer from Super Mario World and earlier, then play NSMBW. You'll be snapping wiimotes by the dozen. Add in that croquet-balls-in-a-tumble-dryer multiplayer crap, and you'll see why that game has sat on my shelf since the day after I bought it. The controls were so crappy that I got screaming mad at the game by the time I reached the first castle, and my wife didn't even make it to the second castle after I tossed my controller in the trash. (I recovered the controller...eventually)

None of the "New" Super Mario games are fun. They all suffer from the horrible, sluggish, stiff, imprecise, and laggy controls - even on the DS. You can even play the original SMB and NSMB on the DS back-to-back for comparison. The new games are crap.

Oddly, I had exactly the opposite experience with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. My wife and I played the shiat out of it. Only game I've ever completed 100% of.

Nintendo would make a killing if they licensed out some of their AAA games to Sony and Microsoft for sale in their respective stores. Sure, you'll have to substitute something else for the stupid waggle motion, but most games would be better off without it anyway.

Antimatter:styckx: DoomPaul: I'm not 100% sure on the Wii U's specs but does it really even qualify as a "next gen" console? I mean, how does its specs compare to the 360 and PS3?

I heard it's barely equal to them.

Wii-U is just the 4th generation N64. They keep giving each console minimal hardware upgrades and add one new shiny object to justify making people pay another $300 for it.

N64 Gimmick - 64Bit

Gamecube Gimmick - Discs instead of carts

Wii Gimmick - Motion controller

Wii-U Gimmick - LCD controller

I don't think the GCN was gimmick based, it was their last non novelty focused console. Spec wise, it was very good compared tot he ps2. It's just sony was able o attract a lot of developers once sales took off, while the xbox went on to pull in a ton of pc gamers. That left nintendo with pretty much just their first party offerings to attract gamers.

This, but I've enjoyed my Wii.

It should have had more power (equal to ps3/xbox), and the ergonomic awesomeness of the nunchuck should have been there at launch.

I expect to have a wii-u eventually. One good mario party and it will end up on my shelf.

Nem Wan:JosephFinn: So if I was to buy an XBox in, say, March, I'm safe for at least a few years on that, right?

I'd say so. If a new Xbox was announced tomorrow it would probably be most of a year before it shipped and then it would be a couple years before its install base is big enough and developers are experienced enough to release big-budget games that really innovate over current-gen. The first batch of games tends to look like if previous gen games had more RAM.

If you don't have a 360 yet, you will have years' worth of games in the library to tap. Since you don't, I doubt you care about being on the bleeding edge of releases.

Kuroshin:Skarekrough: DoomPaul: I'm not 100% sure on the Wii U's specs but does it really even qualify as a "next gen" console? I mean, how does its specs compare to the 360 and PS3?

NIntendo doesn't play by "specs." Their last Gen didn't have HDMI and that was good enough for you even though Sony and Microsoft had it.

You don't need to know resolution, memory, graphics or CPU. They have a Wiimote and friggin' Mario. If that's not good enough for you then it's obvious that you don''t like "fun" so move it along.

Seriously though. Sony and Microsoft are looking at a decade for turnover. NIntendo is comfortable with six. Let's see how long that lasts.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii was not fun. Sluggish controls and stiff movement are the bane of precision platforming. Go play any Mario platformer from Super Mario World and earlier, then play NSMBW. You'll be snapping wiimotes by the dozen. Add in that croquet-balls-in-a-tumble-dryer multiplayer crap, and you'll see why that game has sat on my shelf since the day after I bought it. The controls were so crappy that I got screaming mad at the game by the time I reached the first castle, and my wife didn't even make it to the second castle after I tossed my controller in the trash. (I recovered the controller...eventually)

None of the "New" Super Mario games are fun. They all suffer from the horrible, sluggish, stiff, imprecise, and laggy controls - even on the DS. You can even play the original SMB and NSMB on the DS back-to-back for comparison. The new games are crap.

I had no trouble with mario on the ds. I play my retro systems regularly so I expect I would notice.